>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART
OF OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2018
WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
THIS WEEK ON "HERE AND NOW," A
FIRST LOOK AT A WEST MILWAUKEE
CASE WHERE POLICE WILL NOT BE
CHARGED IN THE DEATH OF A
MENTALLY ILL MAN.
WE'LL TALK WITH THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY WHO DECIDED CRIMINAL
CHARGES ARE NOT WARRANTED AND
THE ATTORNEY FOR THE MAN'S
FAMILY.
AFTER THAT, A CLOSER LOOK AT THE
POLITICAL DIVIDE IN WISCONSIN
AND HOW TALK RADIO, SOCIAL MEDIA
AND ADVERTISING ARE DRIVING
PARTISAN POLITICS.
THEN IN OUR INSIDE LOOK, NEW
INFORMATION FROM THE DEAN OF THE
UW NURSING SCHOOL ABOUT FATIGUE
AND THE RISK FOR ERROR.
THAT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MAY 4.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> IN OUR FIRST LOOK TONIGHT, A
CASE INVOLVING WEST MILWAUKEE
POLICE OFFICERS THAT IS
ATTRACTING NATIONAL ATTENTION.
A CIVIL SUIT IS EXPECTED TO BE
FILED IN THE DEATH OF A MENTALLY
ILL MAN WHO DIED AFTER POLICE
OFFICERS TASED HIM WHILE
RESPONDING TO A REPORT HE WAS
HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
THREE WEST MILWAUKEE POLICE
OFFICERS RESPONDED TO
22-YEAR-OLD ADAM TRAMMEL'S
APARTMENT IN MAY OF 2017.
ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATIVE
REPORTS AND POLICE BODY CAM
FOOTAGE, THE OFFICERS BROKE DOWN
THE DOOR AND FOUND TRAMMEL IN
THE SHOWER.
THEY SAY HE RESPONDED NEITHER TO
POLICE ATEEMENTS TALK WITH ATTEMPTS TO TALK WITH HIM
OR VERBAL COMMANDS.
THEY USE TASERS ON HIM OVER A
NINE OR TEN-MINUTE PERIOD.
ARRIVING PARAMEDICS GAVE HIM A
CALMING MEDICATION.
HE STOPPED BREATHINGINGS BREATHING AND WAS
DECLARED DEATH.
ATTORNEYS DESCRIBE IT AS DEATH
BY TORTURE WITH TASERS, A MAN
WHO WAS UNARMED AND NAKED IN HIS
OWN BATHROOM AND ACCUSED OF NO
CRIME.
MILWAUKEE DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN
CHISHOLM REVIEWED THE CASE FOR
POSSIBLE CRIMINAL CHARGES AND
FOUND THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT
EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT A FINDING OF
GUILT ON THE OFFICERS' PART AND
THEIR ACTIONS DID NOT VIOLATE
THE LAW.
WE WILL HEAR FROM THE ATTORNEY
FOR ADAM TRAMMEL'S FAMILY.
BUT FIRST, WE GO TO JOHN
CHISHOLM IN MILWAUKEE.
AND THANKS VEER MUCH FOR VEER MUCH FOR VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
WHY DIDN'T THE ACTIONS RISE TO
THE CRIMINAL CHARGES EVEN WITH
THE TASING.
>> FIRST, THEY NEVER WANT TO
LOSE THE HUMAN ELEMENT.
WE ALWAYS SIT DOWN AND TALK TO
THE FAMILY AND THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES AND WE
UNDERSTAND THE PAIN AND THE
SUFFERING THAT ACCOMPANIES
TRAGIC INCIDENTS LIKE THIS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY MY
OBLIGATION IS TO LOOK AT ALL THE
FACTS AND APPLY THAT TO THE LAW.
AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THE
POLICE WERE ACTUALLY SUMMONED
NOT FOR A CRIMINAL OFFENSE, BUT
ANOTHER EQUALLY IMPORTANT
OBLIGATION THAT THEY HAVE, WHICH
IS TO HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE
IN MEDICAL DISTRESS.
THEY'RE FIRST LINE RESPONDERS.
THEY HAVE AN ACTUAL OBLIGATION
IF THEY RECEIVE INFORMATION,
WHICH THEY DID, THAT THIS YOUNG
MAN WAS SUFFERING FROM A MENTAL
ILLNESS AND THAT HE WAS
WANDERING THE HALLWAY NAKED.
THEY TALKED TO A NEIGHBOR WHO
WAS CONCERNED THAT HE HAD A
PSYCHOTIC BREAK AND THAT SHE WAS
AFRAID HE WAS GOING TO HURT
HIMSELF.
SO UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES,
THEY ACTUALLY HAD AN OBLIGATION
TO ENTER THAT APARTMENT AND MAKE
CONTACT WITH MR. TRAMMEL.
WE ALSO LOOK AT HOW THEY'RE
TRAINED, AND ONE OF THE WAYS
THAT THEY'RE TRAINED IS THAT IF
THEY SEE SIGNS OF THE PERSON IS
IN SUCH DISTRESS THAT WHAT THEY
ARE TRAINED TO LOOK FOR IS WHAT
THEY CALLED EXCITED DELIRIUM AND
THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT AND
DANGEROUS MEDICAL CONDITION THAT
REQUIRES THEM TO GET HELP FOR
THAT PERSON.
BUT HERE'S THE CATCH IN ALL OF
THAT, FREDERICA, AND THAT IS
THEY CAN'T GET HELP FOR HIM
UNTIL HE IS CALM AND HE'S
RESTRAINED.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS WON'T ACTUALLY
RESPOND DIRECTLY TO HIM UNTIL
THEY HAVE THE SITUATION UNDER
CONTROL.
>> WELL, AS TO THIS EXCITED
DELIRIUM, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT
IS NOT ACTUALLY RECOGNIZED AS A
MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS, BUT POLICE
PROTOCOL SAYS THAT WHEN
CONFRONTED WITH IT, OFFICERS
SHOULD AVOID INCREASING THE
SUBJECT'S AGITATION AND MINIMIZE
PHYSICAL STRUGGLE.
FROM YOUR REVIEW, WOULD IT
APPEAR THAT THESE OFFICERS WENT
AGAINST THAT PROTOCOL?
>> WELL, AGAIN, THE PROTOCOLS
ARE GUIDELINES, AND THE BOTTOM
LINE ON THIS CASE IS IT WAS A
VERY COMPLEX, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE
SITUATION, WHERE YOU HAD A
240-POUND, NAKED MAN WHO THEY
WERE VERY CONCERNED WAS SHOWING
THOSE SIGNS.
IT WAS AN EXTREMELY CONFINED
SPACE.
AND THEIR INTENT AS THEY
EXPRESSED IT WAS SIMPLY TO GET
HIM MEDICAL ATTENTION.
IT'S A DANGEROUS ENCOUNTER.
WE JUST RECENTLY -- I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU SAW THE VIDEOS FROM THE
STREET ENCOUNTER IN MILWAUKEE
YESTERDAY INVOLVING A PERSON
THAT WE BELIEVE IS MENTALLY ILL.
YOU KNOW, FOUR POLICE OFFICERS
SERIOUSLY INJURED.
THAT PERSON AS WELL.
THESE ARE ALWAYS DANGEROUS
ENCOUNTERS.
BUT THEIR INTENT IS TO GET HIM
MEDICAL ATTENTION AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
IF THEY DON'T, HE COULD
POTENTIALLY DIE.
SO IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE WE
LEARNED, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT OVER
AN HOUR AFTER HE WAS DECEASED,
HE HAD A CORE BODY TEMPERATURE
OF ALMOST 104 DEGREES, WHICH
WOULD MEAN THAT AT THE TIME THAT
THEY WERE ENCOUNTERING
MR. TRAMMEL, HE COULD HAVE BEEN
UP IN THE 107, 108 RANGE.
AND IT'S MEDICALLY DANGEROUS IF
YOU'RE ANYTHING HIGHER THAN 103.
SO THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING.
AND THIS IS THE COMPLICATED
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY
ENCOUNTERED.
>> WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA OF
USING CALMING TECHNIQUES OR
EARLIER INTERVENTIONS WITH
TRANQUILIZERS?
>> SEE, AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT
AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER ANY
KIND OF SEDATIVES.
ONLY A TRAINED MEDICAL PERSON
CAN DO THAT.
THEIR OBLIGATION IS SIMPLY TO
MAKE THE AREA AND THE PERSON
SAFE SO THAT THE MEDICAL PEOPLE
CAN DO THAT.
AND IN THIS CASE, THE INITIAL
ENCOUNTER ACTUALLY RESULTED IN
RESISTANCE, AND THAT RESISTANCE
THEY HAD AN OPTION OF EITHER
TRYING TO PUT -- YOU KNOW,
COMPLIANCE HOLDS ON HIM, WHICH
WOULD BE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE.
HE WAS IN THE SHOWER, WET,
DRINKING HOT WATER AT THE TIME.
AND WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO REACH
OUT TO HIM, THAT'S WHEN HE
PUSHED THEIR HANDS AWAY AND
THAT'S WHEN THEY ELECTED TO USE
THAT ELECTRONIC CONTROL DEVICE.
>> IN FACT, I UNDERSTAND THAT
THAT FIRST USE OF THAT DEVICE
WAS TO HIS CHEST.
ISN'T THAT A CARDIAC DANGER?
>> NO.
ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
VIDEOTAPE CLOSELY, YOU'LL SEE
THAT THE PRONG IS GOING TO HIS
RIGHT UPPER THIGH AND HIS LOWER
ABDOMEN.
ALL OF THIS INFORMATION, BY THE
WAY, IS POSTED ON THE
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIVE
AGENCY'S SITE.
THAT WAS THE GREENFIELD POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
WE DID INVESTIGATE THIS
ACCORDING TO THE PROTOCOL THAT
WE USE TO INVESTIGATE ANY
OFFICER-INVOLVED FORCE.
>> YOU SAID THAT YOU MET
EXTENSIVELY WITH THE FAMILY OF
ADAM TRAMMEL.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO ADAM
TRAMMEL'S FAMILY?
>> WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE
SAY HOW SORRY WE ARE FOR THEIR
LOSS.
WE UNDERSTAND THE PAIN THAT
COMES WITH THIS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY
OBLIGATION IS TO PROVIDE THEM
WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT
I CAN POSSIBLY GATHER AND TO
FOLLOW UP ON THINGS THAT THEY
WANT ANSWERED.
BUT IN THE END, MY OBLIGATION IS
TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF
WHETHER I WOULD BE ABLE TO
DEMONSTRATE BEYOND A REASONABLE
DOUBT IN A CRIMINAL SETTING THAT
THE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN
MISCONDUCT.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FOUND THAT
THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS EXCITED
DELIRIUM.
THAT IN AND OF ITSELF TAKES THE
MATTER OUT OF THE REALM OF A
HOMICIDE.
SO THE NEXT QUESTION IS DID THE
ENCOUNTER AND THE USE OF THE
ELECTRONIC CONTROL DEVICES
BECOME ABUSIVE AT SOME POINT IN
TIME?
AND THERE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT
WHETHER THEIR TRAINING WAS
CONSISTENT WITH THE
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY
ENCOUNTERED.
AND HERE'S ONE THING THAT I
LEARNED A GREAT DEAL ABOUT WITH
TASERS AND THAT IS EVEN THOUGH
THE AMOUNT OF RECORDED
DEPLOYMENTS, IN OTHER WORDS, THE
NUMBER OF TIMES THEY PULLED THE
TRIGGER, SEEMS HIGH, THAT DOES
NOT MEAN THAT MR. TRAMMEL
RECEIVED A SHOCK EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF THOSE TIMES.
AND SOMETIMES WHEN THE PROBES
GET DISLODGED, ALL THAT THEY
RECEIVE IS PAIN, BUT THEY'RE NOT
INCAPACITATED.
SO IT'S, AGAIN, A VERY COMPLEX
CIRCUMSTANCE.
AND ULTIMATELY WHAT IS SHOWN IN
THE VIDEO IS THAT MR. TRAMMEL
DOESN'T ACTUALLY EXPIRE OR STOP
BREATHING UNTIL AFTER HE'S BEEN
BROUGHT TO MEDICAL ATTENTION AND
THEY ADMINISTER A SEDATIVE.
SO WE CAN'T EVEN DEMONSTRATE A
DECT CONNECTION
DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE
USE OF THOSE ECDs AND HIS
DEATH.
>> JOHN CHISHOLM, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> GLAD TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> THE FAMILY OF ADAM TRAMMEL
WHO DIED AFTER POLICE USED
TASERS ON HIM IS PLANNING FOR
LEGAL ACTION OVER HIS DEATH.
ATTORNEY ROBIN SHELLOW IS
REPRESENTING THE TRAMMEL FAMILY
AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE
FACT THAT THE DA DECIDED NOT TO
ISSUE CHARGES AGAINST THE
OFFICERS?
>> DISAPPOINTED.
SADDENED AND DISAPPOINTED.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE FAMILY?
WHAT IS THEIR REACTION?
WHAT HAVE THEY TOLD YOU?
>> OUTRAGED.
THEY ARE OUTRAGED.
THEY CANNOT BELIEVE THAT AFTER
WATCHING A VIDEO OF THEIR SON
BEING TORTURED TO DEATH, THAT
THESE OFFICERS WON'T BE HELD
CRIMINAL
CRIMINALLY ACCOUNTABLE.
>> NOW, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
REVIEW DESCRIBED THE OFFICERS AS
CONFRONTED WITH A VERY COMPLEX
PROBLEM.
MR. TRAMMEL, THE REPORT SAID,
WAS NAKED, WET, UNABLE TO
COMMUNICATE, IN ACUTE MENTAL
CRISIS AND RESISTED RESTRAINT.
JOHN CHISHOLM SAID THEIR ONLY
REASONABLE OPTION APPEARED TO BE
THE TASER.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION
OCCURS EVERY SINGLE DAY IN EVERY
SINGLE EITHER EMERGENCY ROOM,
MENTAL HOSPITAL.
I HAD FOR 15 YEARS AN EMPLOYEE
WHO WORKED FOR ME WHO WAS A
SOCIAL WORKER, ONE OF THE MAJOR
PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS.
AND HE EXPLAINED THAT POLICE ARE
NOT TRAINED TO RESTRAIN PERSONS
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
AND IT REQUIRES PEOPLE KNOWING
WHAT TO DO AND HAVING THE RIGHT
SIZE OF PEOPLE THERE AND KNOWING
HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
THE MIDDLE OF PSYCHOSES OR
WHATEVER AND THAT IT'S DONE
EVERY SINGLE DAY IN MENTAL
HEALTH CENTERS AROUND THE
COUNTRY, WHERE PEOPLE ARE
EXPERIENCING VARIOUS KINDS OF
EITHER PSYCHOTIC OR OTHER KINDS
OF REACTIONS AND THAT THEY DO
NOT USE TASERS.
>> CHISHOLM FOUND THAT THERE WAS
NOT SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF
EITHER INTENTIONAL OR NEGLIGENT
ABUSE ON THE OFFICERS' PART.
ON WHAT BASIS DO YOU DISPUTE
THAT?
>> HEARING THE TORTUOUS SCREAMS
FOR HALF AN HOUR AS MY CLIENT'S
SON PRAYED FOR GOD TO TAKE HIM
NOW, TAKE HIM NOW.
HE WAS IN AGONY.
THEY DESCRIBE -- THE PEOPLE WHO
STUDY TASERS DESCRIBE A TASER
VOLT AS A FULL-BODY CHARLIE
HORSE TIMES 60.
THAT -- AND IT LASTS FOR FIVE
SECONDS.
THAT'S ONE.
HE WAS TASED AT LEAST 15 TIMES,
ONE TIME FOR 12 SECONDS
CONTINUOUSLY, AND ANOTHER 14 OR
15 TIMES FOR FIVE SECONDS.
I CAN FIND NOTHING IN THE
LITERATURE, EITHER WRITTEN BY
THE COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURERS
THE WEAPON OR IN ANY OF THE
CASES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN THAT
LEVEL OF ABUSE.
>> THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS LISTED
AS EXCITED DELIRIUM, AND THE
MANNER WAS UNDETERMINED.
DO YOU TAKE EXCEPTION TO THE
CAUSE BEING EXCITED DELIRIUM?
>> WELL, IN -- AT LEAST AS EARLY
AS 2014, WHEN THE PARTICULAR
MODEL OF TASER THAT WAS USED ON
MY CLIENT WAS DISCONTINUED,
EVERY SINGLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
THAT USES THAT MODEL OF TASER
GOT A RETRAINING MEMO SAYING
THAT DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF
ELECTRICITY USED OR THE NUMBER
OF TIMES USED, THAT IT CAN CAUSE
CARDIAC DEATH.
SO, YEAH, I TAKE AN EXCEPTION TO
IT.
>> IS THAT THE BASIS OF YOUR
CIVIL SUIT?
WHAT WILL YOUR CIVIL SUIT ARGUE
IN THIS CASE?
>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, VIOLATIONS
OF EXCESSIVE FORCE, LIABILITY
FOR -- AGAINST EACH OF THE
OFFICERS WHO PARTICIPATED.
WE WILL BE SEEKING JUDGMENTS
AGAINST THEM, AGAINST THE CHIEF
FOR BEING THE CHIEF POLICYMAKER,
FOR ADMINISTERING AN
UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICY WITH
RESPECT TO TASERS AND THE
MUNICIPALITY ITSELF FOR FAILING
TO PROPERLY TRAIN, EDUCATE,
SELECT ITS OFFICERS.
>> KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE OF OF YOUR WORK AND
RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION INTO
THIS CASE, WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE METHOD, IN YOUR MIND, FOR
OFFICERS TO HELP ADAM TRAMMEL AS
HE WAS IN THE SHOWER, WET, BIG
GUY, IN THE MIDST, REPORTEDLY,
OF A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS?
HOW DO YOU DO THAT WHERE YOU TRY
TO HELP THIS PERSON?
>> CALL FOR STRONGER OFFICERS TO
GET HIM OUT OF THE BATHTUB.
CLEAR AND SIMPLE.
>> AND HOW DO --
>> THEY WERE NOT -- HE WAS NOT
BEING SUSPECTED OF A CRIME.
THIS IS A MENTAL HEALTH CHECK, A
WELLNESS CHECK.
SO ONCE YOU KNOW THAT IT'S A
WELLNESS CHECK AND THERE MAY BE
A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, THEN YOU
DEAL WITH IT EXACTLY THE WAY
CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS DEAL
WITH IT ALL THE TIME: STRONGER
OFFICERS WHO'D SIMPLY LIFT HIM
OUT OF THE BATHTUB, PERIOD.
YOU KNOW?
FIND ME A POLICE DEPARTMENT IN
THE COUNTY AREA WHERE THEY
COULDN'T HAVE CALLED FOR
ASSISTANCE TO SAY, HEY, YOU GOT
ANY BIG, STRONG GUYS THAT CAN
COME OVER?
WE GOT A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
>> WHAT DO YOU HOPE CAN BE
LEARNED FROM THIS CASE?
>> THAT WE TALK A LOT ABOUT
NONLETHAL FORCE AND LETHAL
FORCE.
NONLETHAL FORCE CAN BE
INCREDIBLY DEADLY IF YOU DON'T
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
YOU CAN TAKE A BASEBALL BAT AND
USE IT ONCE AND RESTRAIN
SOMEBODY.
BUT IF YOU HIT HIM 30 TIMES IN
THE HEAD, YOU MIGHT KILL HIM.
>> ROBIN SHELLOW, WE NEED TO
LEAVE IT HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> OUR INSIDE LOOK THIS WEEK
FOCUSES ON A NEW PUSH TO
ACKNOWLEDGE FATIGUE AMONG
NURSES.
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSING
HAS ISSUED RECOMMENDATIONS TO
PROMOTE A RESTED AND ALERT STAFF
BECAUSE TIRED NURSES INCREASE
THE RISK OF MEDICAL MISTAKES AND
PUTTING THEIR OWN HEALTH AT
RISK.
THE RISK OF ERRORS DOUBLES AFTER
WORKING MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS
AND GO UP 3.5 TIMES FOR NURSES
WORKING MORE THAN 12 HOURS.
LINDA SCOTT IS DEAN OF THE UW
NURSING SCHOOL.
SHE JOINS US THIS WEEK TO TALK
MORE ABOUT HER FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS AS A MEMBER OF
THE ACADEMY OF NURSING.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> SO INTERESTING.
YOU DID A NATIONAL STUDY OF
NURSES' WORK HOURS.
WHAT DID YOU FIND?
>> WE LOOKED AT OVER 11,000
SHIFTS AND WE FOUND JUST WHAT
YOU SAID, THAT RISKS FOR ERROR
DOUBLES WITH OVERTIME, ANY HOURS
WORKED AFTER EIGHT, AND AFTER 12
HOURS THEY'RE 3.5 TIMES MORE
LIKELY.
BUT WHAT WE ALSO FOUND IS THAT
ERRORS INCREASED WHEN THERE WAS
IN ADD QUITE SLEEP.
>> WELL, SURE.
AND YET NURSES REGULARLY, I
UNDERSTAND, WORK THESE 12-HOUR
SHIFTS.
HOW COMMON IS THAT IN THE
PRACTICE?
>> IT'S MORE COMMON.
IT STARTED OFF IN CRITICAL CARE,
WITH THE GOAL TO TRY TO REDUCE
THE NUMBER OF HANDOFFS WITH A
PATIENT.
BUT WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS EVEN
THOUGH NURSES MAY WORK THREE
12-HOUR SHIFTS, THAT THEY MAY
WORK ADDITIONAL SHIFTS
ELSEWHERE.
SO THERE'S LITTLE TIME FOR
RESPITE.
AND WE ALSO FOUND THAT NURSES,
EVEN THOUGH IT'S A 12-HOUR
SHIFT, THEY TEND TO WORK AN HOUR
OR TWO BEYOND THAT.
WHEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT
THE NUMBER OF CONSECUTIVE WAKE
HOURS, IT BECOMES VERY
PROBLEMATIC.
AS ADULTS WE STILL NEED EIGHT
HOURS OF SLEEP, AT LEAST, IN A
24-HOUR PERIOD.
AND WHEN YOU DON'T DO THAT AND
WHEN YOU HAVE CONSECUTIVE WAKE
HOURS, YOU ALSO HAVE THAT SAME
NEUROCOGNITIVE EFFECT THAT YOU
SEE WITH INTOXICATION.
>> WOW.
WELL, SO IF THESE LONG SHIFTS
ARE AN ISSUE, WHY DON'T
HOSPITALS JUST SHORTEN THE
SHIFTS?
>> WELL, THAT IS ONE OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS, IS TO BEGIN TO
LOOK AT NEW SHIFT WORK PATTERNS
RATHER THAN 12-HOUR SHIFTS.
BUT THERE IS ALSO A CONCERN THAT
IF THEY SHIFT TO A DIFFERENT
MODEL, THAT THEY COULD
POTENTIALLY LOSE STAFF, BECAUSE
FROM A PERSONAL PREFERENCE,
NURSES MAY ONLY WANT TO WORK
12-HOUR SHIFTS.
>> SO WHAT ARE THE OTHER
RECOMMENDATIONS?
>> SO WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO
DO IS TO HAVE ORGANIZATIONS,
BOTH EMPLOYERS AS WELL AS
EMPLOYEES, THE NURSES, TO REALLY
ENGAGE IN GOOD FATIGUE
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT 12-HOUR SHIFTS, SO IF
YOU'RE GOING TO DO A 12-HOUR
SHIFT, HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE
FATIGUE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
WITHIN THAT?
AS AN INDIVIDUAL, DO I COME TO
WORK FIT FOR DUTY?
HAVE I HAD ENOUGH SLEEP PRIOR TO
THAT WORK SHIFT SO THAT I CAN BE
ALERT AND VIGILANT?
SO IT'S REALLY LOOKING AT OUR
CURRENT PRACTICES AND MODIFYING
THEM.
A VERY GOOD AND EFFECTIVE
FATIGUE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IS
STRATEGIC NAPS, YOU KNOW, AND
REALLY TAKING A 20-MINUTE NAP
WILL INCREASE YOUR LEVEL OF
ALERTNESS AND ALLOW YOU TO BE
AWAKE AND IT WILL BREAK THOSE
CONSECUTIVE WAKE HOURS.
>> EL WITH, THAT WELL, THAT SOUNDS GREAT, BUT
HOW WILLING ARE EMPLOYERS IN
ALLOWING THEIR WORKERS TO TAKE
CATNAPS DURING THE DAY?
>> UNFORTUNATELY THEY'RE NOT.
MOST HAVE HUMAN RESOURCE
POLICIES ON THE BOOKS THAT SAY
IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS CAUGHT
NAPPING OR SLEEPING ON THE JOB,
IT'S GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION.
BUT YET THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT
REALLY SUPPORTS THAT IF YOU GIVE
SOMEONE A RESPITE FROM THE JOB,
IF YOU ALLOW THEM TO TAKE A
SHORT NAP, IT ACTUALLY IMPROVES
PATIENT SAFETY AS WELL AS NURSE
SAFETY.
>> I WOULD THINK SO.
YOU KNOW, THE IDEA THAT TIRED
NURSES, YOU KNOW, ARE MORE PRONE
TO MEDICAL MISTAKES DOESN'T
INSTILL A LOT OF CONFIDENCE ON
THE PART OF PATIENTS.
IS THIS KIND OF A TOUCHY SUBJECT
FOR HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS?
>> WELL, I THINK IT IS, BUT I
THINK IT'S ONE THAT WE CAN NO
LONGER IGNORE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT NURSES ARE
HUMAN.
ALL OF US HAVE THE SAME ISSUE,
WHETHER YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, IN
ACADEMIA, YOU'RE IN A HOSPITAL.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT HOW
WE CAN DO HEALTHY PRACTICES, HOW
WE CAN INCREASE THE QUALITY AND
QUANTITY OF SLEEP SO THAT WE
FUNCTION.
JUST THE LOSS OF AN HOUR OR TWO
CAN -- AND YOU DO THAT A FEW
DAYS IN A ROW, YOU ACTUALLY CAN
DEVELOP WHAT'S CALLED A
CUMULATIVE SLEEP DEBT.
YOU CAN'T GET THAT BACK.
>> BRIEFLY, THE IDEA -- WELL, WE
ALL KNOW THAT NURSES ARE THE
BACKBONE OF THE OPERATION.
HOW WELL IS THAT ACKNOWLEDGED BY
HOSPITALS MAKING POLICY
DECISIONS ON THEIR BEHALF?
>> WELL, NURSES, I THINK
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT NURSES ARE
INDEED CRITICAL TO HEALTH CARE
DELIVERY.
AND AS AN EMPLOYER, YOU ALSO
REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
YOU HAVE A HEALTHY WORK
ENVIRONMENT.
SO WHAT I REALLY HOPE THAT THE
ACADEMY'S POSITION PAPER WILL DO
WILL BE A CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL
EMPLOYERS TO REALLY LOOK AT
THEIR CURRENT PRACTICES AND MAKE
THIS TRULY A YEAR OF THE HEALTHY
NURSE AND BEYOND.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LINDA SCOTT, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN THIS WEEK'S CLOSER LOOK,
WISCONSIN'S POLITICAL DIVIDES.
FER WR EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, PARTISAN
POLITICS PERMEATE TALK RADIO,
MEDIA AND ADVERTISING.
NEW RESEARCH IS UNDERWAY TO
INVESTIGATE HOW WE GOT HERE.
RESEARCH JUST AWARDED A MAJOR
GRANT FROM THE WISCONSIN ALUMNI
RESEARCH FOUNDATION.
THIS WEEK, LEW FRIEDLAND, A
PROFESSOR IN THE SCHOOL OF
JOURNALISM IS HERE TO EXPLAIN
WHY WE MIGHT BE HEADED FOR A
DEMOCRATIC CRISIS.
LEW, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
SO HOW COULD THE POLARIZATION OF
WISCONSIN MEDIA RESULT IN A
DEMOCRATIC CRISIS?
>> WELL, THESE DAYS PEOPLE LIVE
IN THEIR MEDIA ENVIRONMENTS AND
I THINK MANY OF US KNOW THAT, WE
REALIZE IT.
WE ARE AREA ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, ALL
KINDS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE'RE BOMBARDED BY MEDIA OF ALL
SORTS.
AND THAT AFFECTS OUR POLITICAL
ENVIRONMENT.
HERE IN WISCONSIN I DON'T THINK
IT'S A SECRET THAT WE'VE HAD
CONTENTIOUS POLITICS OVER THE
LAST AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS OR SO
AND WE BELIEVE THAT MEDIA HAS
PROBABLY PLAYED A LARGE ROLE IN
THAT CONTENTION AND WE WANT TO
UNDERSTAND WHETHER IT HAS AND
HOW IT HAS.
>> WHAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF KIND OF
THE POLARIZATION AND
FRAGMENTATION IN THE MEDIA THAT
WE DIGEST HERE IN WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, ONE OF THE MOST
INTERESTING EXAMPLES IN
WISCONSIN IS THAT WE HAVE A
UNIQUE ECOLOGY IN THIS STATE
BECAUSE OUR NEWSPAPERS ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT STILL IN THIS
STATE, BUT THEY ARE SHRINKING,
AS THEY ARE ELSEWHERE.
NEWSPAPERS ARE THE FOUNTAIN OF
MOST LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION.
SO WHEN NEWSPAPERS SHRINK, STATE
HOUSE REPORTING SHRINKS.
WE'VE SEEN A STEADY DECREASE IN
STATE HOUSE REPORTERS.
SO THAT'S LESS INFORMATION GOING
OUT TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES, LESS
THAT'S BEING REPORTED ON.
WHAT TAKES THE PLACE OF THAT?
WELL, IT'S PARTY COMMUNICATION
AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> AND THERE'S ALSO A ROLE FOR,
I UNDERSTAND, IN YOUR
INVESTIGATION KIND OF
CONSERVATIVE TALK RADIO AND HOW
THAT HELPED SHAPE PARTISAN
POLITICS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT
THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
WAS A MAJOR FORCE IN THIS STATE,
WITH A CIRCULATION OF ALMOST
300,000.
WELL, OVER THE LAST DECADE IT
SHRUNK TO SOMEWHAT ABOVE
100,000.
SO IT SHRUNK CONSIDERABLY
STATEWIDE.
AT THE SAME TIME, TALK RADIO HAS
BEGUN TO SATURATE THE STATE, NOT
JUST LOCAL TALK, BUT NATIONAL
TALK.
70 HOURS TOTAL OF TALK RADIO PER
DAY IN WISCONSIN ACROSS THE
ENTIRE STATE.
OF COURSE, THAT'S FROM ALL
SOURCES.
AND THAT CHANGES THE POLITICAL
ENVIRONMENT IN SOME FAIRLY BASIC
WAYS.
>> WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF
YOUR RESEARCH?
HOW ARE YOU CONDUCTING IT?
>> WE ARE -- WE HAVE THREE BASIC
LAYERS TO OUR RESEARCH.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT WE CALL
THE POLITICAL ECOLOGY OF THE
STATE, THE RANGE OF STATEMENTS
OF POLITICAL ACTORS,
POLITICIANS, PRESS RELEASES, THE
WAY THAT THEY'VE CONDUCTED THEIR
MEDIA POLITICAL ADVERTISING.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT WE CALL
THE MEDIA, THE COMMUNICATION
ECOLOGY.
SO HOW HAS TWITTER AFFECTED THE
WAY THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
POLITICS?
THE DECLINE OF NEWSPAPERS, THE
RISE IN TALK RADIO.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT A
SOCIAL LAYER, HOW DO THE BASIC
DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE STATE, WHERE
PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED OR WHERE
THEY'RE NOT EMPLOYED, HOW DOES
THAT AFFECT THEIR POLITICAL
UNDERSTANDING.
>> KIND OF GOING BACK TO THE
HEAD OF THIS INTERVIEW, WHY IS
IT IMPORTANT THAT WE MEASURE AND
UNDERSTAND THIS OVER SUCH A LONG
PERIOD OF TIME?
>> WELL, WE ARE IN A PERIOD OF
MOMENTOUS CHANGE IN OUR
POLITICAL COMMUNICATION ECOLOGY,
AND IF WE DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE
A NATION WHICH IS -- IN WHICH
POLITICS ARE MORE CONTENTIOUS
THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN QUITE A
WHILE, AND I THINK MANY PEOPLE
ON ALL SIDES BELIEVE THAT, THEN
UNDERSTANDING OUR COMMUNICATION
ECOLOGY IS A FUNDAMENTAL
STARTING POINT TO KNOWING HOW WE
GOT HERE AND POSSIBLY HOW WE CAN
BEGIN TO WORK OUR WAY OUT OF IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
LEW FRIEDLAND, THANKS VERY MUCH
AND GOOD LUCK WITH THE RESEARCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS
WEEK.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
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